Chattering Mind

Hate is a Four-Letter Word

by Dr. Susan CorsoYears ago, I knew a woman who, whenever she was confronted with any distasteful aspect of the human condition, would say, “Doncha just hate that?” It always made us laugh at the time.

It reminds me of something St. Paul writes in Romans 7: 15 in the Christian Scriptures. For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not, but what I hate, that do I. This is from the King James Version. It’s written in Shakespearean English which can seem convoluted. Let me translate:

I don’t always like my own actions. What I should do, I don’t do. I do what I disapprove of! Jeez.

Lately I’m enjoying e-books, being a big believer in save-the-trees. Someone sent me a book by Anantharaman Vishwanath entitled, “I Love to Hate, But I Hate When I Do Not Love.” I don’t love to hate, and I don’t think anyone, really, loves to hate, but there is hate in me. I know it because I see hate in the world, and I wouldn’t be able to see it if it weren’t somewhere in me.

Years later, I knew a man who, whenever I would say, “I hate that,” would respond with, “Ouch.” One particularly conscious day, I asked him why. He said, “You’re adding to the hate in the world. Hate hurts.” I don’t want to add to the hate in the world! I took up the spiritual practice of ouch.

I laughed when I read your quote of Romans 7:15 as this comes to mind whenever I hear myself saying something I know is a poor choice, watching the gears turn as I do, and choosing to say it anyway. (Inner child anyone?!) Then there’s my higher self: whatever I emit into the cosmos remains forever, regardless of anyone else seeing, hearing or feeling it. When I act in this belief, I live consciously. It guides my choices to either nuture or degrade, create or consume. A simple-but-not-easy idea. I’m joining the ouch crowd, too. FYI-There’s a test anyone can take to reveal hidden biases — a source of hate and discrimination — on the Tolerance.org website (an offshoot of the splendid Southern Poverty Law Center) Find it @ http://www.tolerance.org/hidden_bias/index.html.

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